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Reduced immunoglobulin kappa/lambda light chain ratio in perinatally HIV-1-infected children
1Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy.
Insights
Children with perinatal human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection show a consistent bias toward producing lambda light chains over kappa light chains. This finding contributes to understanding B-cell abnormalities in pediatric HIV-1.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Perinatal human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection can lead to B-cell abnormalities.
- The kappa/lambda light chain ratio (KLR) is a novel laboratory index assessing immunoglobulin light chain synthesis balance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the serum immunoglobulin kappa/lambda light chain ratio (KLR) in children with perinatal HIV-1 infection.
- To determine if HIV-1 infection status or therapy affects KLR.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples from 27 perinatally HIV-1-infected children were analyzed.
- Immunonephelometry was used to measure the kappa/lambda light chain ratio (KLR).
- KLR was compared to age-matched healthy controls.
Main Results:
- KLR was consistent over time within individual subjects.
- HIV-1-infected children had a significantly lower KLR compared to controls.
- This difference was observed regardless of disease status or therapy.
Conclusions:
- Children with perinatal HIV-1 infection exhibit a bias towards producing lambda light chains over kappa light chains.
- This altered light chain production is a contributing factor to B-cell abnormalities in pediatric HIV-1.
- KLR serves as a potential indicator of immune dysregulation in HIV-1-infected children.
Abstract:
In 27 perinatally human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected children, we measured, by immunonephelometry, the kappa/lambda light chain ratio (KLR) of serum immunoglobulins. The latter is a recently available laboratory index reflecting the balance between the synthesis of K isotypes and L isotypes. KLR was consistent over time in each subject, and was significantly lower than that of an age-matched normal population, independently of disease status and therapy. These data indicate a bias, in these subjects, to produce preferentially lambda rather than kappa light chains, contributing to the multiple B-cell abnormalities in HIV-1-infected children.
